Vise

ABSTRACT

An angularly adjustable support for a vise or the like comprises a housing having a cylindrical chamber formed therein, a sleeve slidably mounted in the chamber for movement between an elevated and a lowered position, a ball-shaped member mounted in the sleeve for rotation about the center of gyration and a support shaft connected at one end to the ball-shaped member and extending radially outwardly therefrom. In addition, the ballshaped member is rotatable about its center of gyration when the sleeve is in the elevated position to dispose the support shaft in a first position axially aligned with the cylindrical chamber of the second position substantially at right angles to the first axially aligned position. The ball member is rotatable about an axis which is coextensive with the axis of its shaft. Clamping means is provided for releasably clamping the ball member with respect to the sleeve and housing within the range of movement of the ball relative to the sleeve.

' United States Patent [191 Tulk 541 VISE [76] Inventor: George M. Tulk, 2469 Dundas St.

West, Toronto 9, Ontario, Canada 22 Filed: Nov. 10, 1972 21 Appl.'No.:305,573

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 5, 1972 Canada..... l4l459 [52] US. Cl. ..'269/75, 248/181 [51} Int. Cl B231] 1/12 [58] Field Of Search 269/57, 59, 75; 248/179, 248/181,187;287/12,21,89

[56]. I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 538,534 4/1895 Neill "248/181 X 855,149 5/1907' Vaughn..... 1,511,298 10/1924 P6IZO|C1.....

2,260,995 10/1941 Kruczek ..269/75 X Primary Examiner-Roy Lake Assistant Examiner-Mark S. Bicks Attorney, Agertt, or Firm-FetherstO'nhaugh & Co.

- 111 3,815,892 June 11, 1974 57 1 ABSTRACT An angularly adjustable support for a vise or the like comprises a housing having a cylindrical chamber formed therein, a sleeve slidably mounted in the chamber for movement between an elevated and a lowered position, a ball-shaped member mounted in the sleeve for rotation about-the center of gyration and a support shaft connected at one end to the ballshaped member and extending radially outwardly therefrom. In addition, the ball-shaped member is rotatable about its center of gyration when the sleeve is in the elevated position to dispose the support shaft in a first position axially aligned with the cylindrical chamber of the second position substantially at right angles to thefirst axially aligned position. The ball ,member'is rotatable about an axis which is coextensive with the axis of its shaft. Clamping means is provided for releasably clamping the ball member with respect to the sleeve and housing within the range of movement of the ball relative to the sleeve.

13 Claims. 3 Drawing Figures VISE FIELD or INVENTION This invention relates to adjustable support devices for visesand the like. In particular this invention relates to an angularly adjustable device of the ball and socket type which is particularly suitable for mounting a vise or the like.

PRIOR ART Various attempts have been made to provide support devices for vises and the like capable of permitting the vise to be angularly disposed in any required position relative to a suitable mounting base. Generally these devices have included a pair of support shafts mounted at right angles to one another whereby for angular adjustment in one plane the vise is rotated about one support shaft, and for. angular adjustment in the' other plane the vise is pivoted about the second support shaft. This type of device is cumbersome and expensive to manufacture and generally the angular adjustment of the vise is quite limited.

It is quite common to use ball and socket type devices to provide angular adjustment between two members which are connected to one another. The extent of angular adjustment which is permitted by the conventional ball and socket connector is limited by the fact that the housing must encompass a major portion of the ball so as to adequately restrain the ball in a bearing seat.

' SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention overcomes the difficulties of the prior art described above and provides a simple and inexpensive angularly adjustable support for a vise or the like which is capable of a wide range of angular adjustment.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an angularly adjustable support for a vise or'the like comprises a housing, a cylindrical shaped chamber formed therein, a sleeve slidably mounted in the cylindrical chamber for movement between a lowered position and an elevated position, a ball-shaped member mounted in the sleeve for rotation about its center of gyration, a support shaft connected at one end to the ball-shaped member and extending radially outwardly therefrom and connectible at its other end to a vise or the like. The ball-shaped member is rotatable about its centre of gyration when the sleeve is in the elevated position to dispose the support shaft in a first position axially aligned with said cylindrical chamber and a second position substantially at right angles to said first position, said ball member being rotatable on an axis which is coextensive with the axis of said shaft. The device also includes clamping means for releasably clamping the ball member with respect to the sleeve and housing within the range of movement of the ball member relative to the sleeve.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the sleeve and housing are each formed with the slot which extends inwardly from one end thereof to a level below the level of the support shaft when the sleeve is in the elevated position and the support shaft is in the second transverse position.

. a housing 14, a clamping ring 15, a sleeve 16, a ball PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention will be more clearly understood after reference to the following detailed specification read in conjunction with the drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an assembled adjustable vise according to an embodiment of the present invention with the vise in a first position;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-section view showing the vise in a second position at right angles to said first position;

and

FIG. 3 is a further cross sectional view showing thevise in a third position.

With reference to the drawings, the reference numeral l0 refers generally to an angularly adjustable vise assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. The assembly includes a-base member 12,

member 18, a support shaft and a vise 22.

' The housing 14 is formed with a generally cylindrical shaped chamber 24 extending longitudinally therethrough. The chamber 24 has an upper cylindrical wall portion 26, a lower cylindrical wall portion 28 and a radially extending shoulder 30 connecting the cylindrical walls 26 and 28.

The sleeve member 16 has an upper cylindrical portion 32 and a lower cylindrical portion 34, the upper and lower cylindrical portions are connected by a radially extending shoulder 36. The upper cylindrical por tion 32 of the sleeve 16 is adapted to fit in a close fitting sliding relationship. within the upper cylindrical portion 26 of the housing and the lower cylindrical portion 34 of the sleeve is adapted to fit in a close fitting sliding relationship within the lower cylindrical portion 28 of the housing. The radially extending shoulders 30 and 36 abut one another when the sleeve member 16 is in the uppermost elevated position so as to limit the upward movement of the sleeve 16 within the housing 14. The sleeve 16 is formed with a central passageway 38 which extends therethrough. A concave shaped angular bearing surface 40 is formed substantially centrally of the length of the passage 38. The concave contour of the bearing seat 40 is adapted to conform closely to the curvature of the outer surface of the ball shaped member 18.

The wall of the housing 14 is formed with a longitudinally extending slit 42 which extends therethrough over the full length of the housing. The sleeve 16 is formed with a longitudinally extending slit 44 which extends over the full length of the sleeve.

The housing 14 is formed with a pair of lugs 46 which extend outwardly from the housing one on either side of the longitudinally extending slit 42. A clamping screw 48 passes through a passage formed in one of the lugs 46 and threadably engages the other lug 46 and'is operable to urge the lugs towards one another to close the slit 42. The closing of the slit 42 causes the sleeve to be compressed to close the slit 44 and firmly engage the ball-shaped member 18. Both the sleeve 16 and housing 14 are sufficiently resilient to return to a position in which the ball-shaped member is free to rotate relative to the bearing surface 40 when the'clamping force is removed.

. The lower end of the housing 14 is formed with an annular shoulder 50 which has a downwardly directed face' 52. The shoulder 50 is formed with a plurality of passages 54 for receiving clamping screws 56. The base member I2 is formed with an inwardly directed flange 58 which is proportioned to underlie at least a portion of the face52 of the Shoulder 50.'The flange 58 of the base member 12. is clamped against the face 52'of the shoulder 50 by means of an annular ring :60 whichis formed with threaded passages 62 to receive the clampis rigidly secured to the upper end of the shaft 20.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of a U-shaped'slot 70 in' the wall of the housingfand a further U-shaped slot 72 in the wall of the sleeve. As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings,'t he U- shaped slots 70 and 72 have a depth sufficient to permit the shaft to be disposed at right angles to the axis of the cylindrical chamber 24 when the sleeve 16 is in the elevated position shown in FIG; 2 of the drawings.

In use, the vise according to the embodiments of the invention described above will generally be mounted on a workbench by rigidly securing the base member 12 to the workbench by means of suitable bolts extend.-

.ing through the passages 13 which are formed at spaced intervals about the base member. When the vise'is to be used in the normal horizontal plane illustrated in FIG. 1 of thed'rawings, the sleeve 16 may be located in the lowered position with the lower surface of the vise resting on the upper surface of the housing 14. In this position,.the upper surface of the housing provides additional support for the vise. The clamping screw 48-is then tightened to close the slit in the housing and the sleeve so that the ball member 18 is rigidly secured relative to the sleeve in the housing. If necessary, the housing may be rotated on the base member so as to position the clamping jaws of the device in any required vertical plane before the clamping screws 56 are tightened to cause the clamping ring 60 to be drawn into engagementwith the flange 58 of the base member.

When it is desired to adjust the angular position of the vise relative to the axisof the cylindrical chamber,

the clamping screw 48 is released so that the sleeve 16' is free to reciprocate within the housing and the ball member 18 is free .to rotate within the sleeve. The sleeve is raised within thehousing to a sufficient extent to permit the ball to be rotated within the sleeve to dispose thesu'pportshaft 20 at the required angular position with respect to the axis of the cylindrical chamber 24. When the shaft 20 is in the required angular position, the clamping screw 48 is then reapplied so that the sleeve and ball member are rigidly clamped in'the required position.

As shown in FIG. 2 ofthe drawings, the sleeve 16 maybe elevated to a sufficient extent to permit the shaft 20 to be disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of the chamber 24. In this position, the shaft 20 is rotatable about its own axis so that the position of the clamping jaws of the vise may be rotated out of the position shown in FIG. 2 to any other position permitted by the clearances which are provided between the'vise and the adjacent housing and base members.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the device according to the present invention is rotatable about three axes. Firstly, by reason of the fact that the housing 14 is rotatable on the base member 12, the device is'rotatable about the axis A which is the longitudiwith any apparatus which requires an adjustable base nal axis of the cylindrical chamber 24. The vise 22 is 4 s. also rotatable abouttheaxis B which is the longitudinal axis of the shaft 20. In addition, theball member 18 is rotatable about its ,center of gyration so that the ball may be rotatable about an axis C at right angles to the axes A and B.

" It will be apparent that the vise may be locked in any position between the position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings and the position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, FIG. 3 shows a typical intermediate position.

. While the adjustable support device of the present invention is particularly suitable foruse in association with a vise such as that illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, it will be apparent that this device may be used in association with any conventional vise or clamping device which is presently available. The ad justable support device may also be used in association of this type and, while it is particularly suitable for use in association with a vise, the use of this deviceis' not limited to use in association with a vise.

Various modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art'without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, one or more additional U-shaped slots may be formed in the side wall of the housing at predetermined angles with respect to .the'single U-shaped slot described above so that theshaft 20 may belocated in the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2 at more than one position without adjusting the position of the housing 14 relative to the base 12. These and other modifications willbe apparent to those skilled in the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An angularly adjustable support for a vise compris+ a. a housing having a cylindrical chamber formed therein which opens upwardly through the upper end of the housing,

b. a sleeve slidably mounted in said chamber for movement between a lowered position and an elevated position, said sleeve having seat means therefrom and connectible at its other end to a visesaid support shaft having a length such that the vise will be spaced from the center of the ball-shaped member a distance only slightly greater than half the maximum width of the upper end of said housing, said other'end of said shaft being substantially level with the upper end of said housing when said sleeve is in said lowered position such that said vise may rest on the upper end of said housing to be supported thereby,

. said ball-shaped member being rotatable about its center of gyration when said sleeve is in said elevated position to dispose said support shaft in a first position axially aligned with said cylindrical chamber and a second position substantially at right angles to said first position, said ball member being rotatable on an axis which is aligned with the' axis of said shaft,

f. clamping means for releasably clamping said ball member with respect to said sleeve and housing within the range of movement of said ball relative to said sleeve. v

2. An angularly adjustable device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sleeve has an upper end and a lower end, a slot formed in said sleeve and extending inwardly from said upper end thereof to a level below the level of said support shaft when in'said second position, a slot formed in said housing and extending inwardly from said upper end of said housing to a level below the level of said support shaft when said sleeve is in said elevated position and said support shaft is in said second position.

nally slit, said clamping means including means for applying a clamping force to said sleeve and housing which tends to close said slits and thereby clamp said ball.

5. An angularly adjustable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical chamber of said housing is formed with an annular shoulder and said sleeve is formed with an annular shoulder, said shoulders being adapted to abut one another when said sleeve is in said elevated position to retain said sleeve withinsaid housmg.

6. An angularly adjustable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve is formed with an annular concave bearing surface adapted to receive a portion of the spherical surface of said ball in a close fitting relationship.

7. An angularly adjustable vise comprising,

a. a housing having a cylindrical chamber formed therein and opening through an upper end thereof, said upper end of said housing being cylindrical in shape.

b. a sleeve 'slidably mounted in said chamber for movement between a lowered position and an elevated position,

c. a ball-shaped member mounted in said sleeve for rotation about its center of gyration,

d. a support shaft connected at one end to said ballshaped shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom,

e. vise means mounted on the other end of said shaft, said support shaft having a length such that said vise is spaced from the center of said ball-shaped member a distance only slightly greater than the radius of said cylindrical upper end of said housing,

said sleeve being spaced from said upper end of said housing when in said lowered position a distance sufficient to cause the vise to engage said housing to retain the vise in the plane of said upper end of said housing, said ball means being rotatable about said center of gyration when said sleeve is in said elevated position to dispose said support shaft and vise in a first position in which said support shaft is axially aligned with said cylindrical cham- -ber and a. second position in which said support shaft extends substantially at right angles to said first position, said ball means alsobeing rotatable on an axis which extends coextensive with the axis of said shaft, I f. clamping means for releasably clamping said ball member with said shaft in said first or second posi- 'a slot formed in said sleeve and extending downwardly from the upper end thereof to a level below the level of said support shaft when in said second position, said housing having an upper end, a slot formed in said housing and extending downwardly from'said upper end to a level below the level of said support shaft when said sleeve is in said elevated position and said support shaft is in said second position.

10. An angularly adjustable vise as claimed in claim 9 including a base member, said housing being mounted for rotation on said base member whereby the angular position of said slot may be adjusted.

11. An angularly adjustable device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said sleeve and housing are each longitudinally slit, said clamping means including means for applying a clamping force to said sleeve and housing which tends to close saidslits and thereby clamp said ball.

12. An angularly adjustable device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cylindrical chamber of said housing is formed with an annular shoulder and said sleeve is formed with an annular shoulder, said shoulders being adapted to abut one another when said sleeve is in said elevated position to retain said sleeve within said housing.

13. An angularly adjustable device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said sleeve is formed with an annular concave bearing surface adapted to receive a portion of the spherical surface of said ball in a close fitting relationship. 

1. An angularly adjustable support for a vise comprising, a. a housing having a cylindrical chamber formed therein which opens upwardly through the upper end of the housing, b. a sleeve slidably mounted in said chamber for movement between a lowered position and an elevated position, said sleeve having seat means formed therein to receive a ballshaped member, c. a ball-shaped member mounted in said seat means of said sleeve for rotation about its center of gyration, d. a support shaft connected at one end to said ball-shaped member and extending radially outwardly therefrom and connectible at its other end to a vise said support shaft having a length such that the vise will be spaced from the center of the ball-shaped member a distance only slightly greater than half the maximum width of the upper end of said housing, said other end of said shaft being substantially level with the upper end of said housing when said sleeve is in said lowered position such that said vise may rest on the upper end of said housing to be supported thereby, e. said ball-shaped member being rotatable about its center of gyration when said sleeve is in said elevated position to dispose said support shaft in a first position axially aligned with said cylindrical chamber and a second position substantially at right angles to said first position, said ball member being rotatable on an axis which is aligned with the axis of said shaft, f. clamping means for releasably clamping said ball member with respect to said sleeve and housing within the range of movement of said ball relative to said sleeve.
 2. An angularly adjustable device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sleeve has an upper end and a lower end, a slot formed in said sleeve and extending inwardly from said upper end thereof to a level below the level of said support shaft when in said second position, a slot formed in said housing and extending inwardly from said upper end of said housing to a level below the level of said support shaft when said sleeve is in said elevated position and said support shaft is in said second position.
 3. An angularly adjustable device as claimed in claim 2 including a base member, said housing being mounted for rotation on said base member whereby the angular position of said slot may be adjusted relative to said base member.
 4. An angularly adjustable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve and housing are each longitudinally slit, said clamping means including means for applying a clamping force to said sleeve and housing which tends to close said slits and thereby clamp said ball.
 5. An angularly adjustable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical chamber of said housing is formed with an annular shoulder and said sleeve is formed with an annular shoulder, said shoulders being adapted to abut one another When said sleeve is in said elevated position to retain said sleeve within said housing.
 6. An angularly adjustable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve is formed with an annular concave bearing surface adapted to receive a portion of the spherical surface of said ball in a close fitting relationship.
 7. An angularly adjustable vise comprising, a. a housing having a cylindrical chamber formed therein and opening through an upper end thereof, said upper end of said housing being cylindrical in shape, b. a sleeve slidably mounted in said chamber for movement between a lowered position and an elevated position, c. a ball-shaped member mounted in said sleeve for rotation about its center of gyration, d. a support shaft connected at one end to said ball-shaped shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom, e. vise means mounted on the other end of said shaft, said support shaft having a length such that said vise is spaced from the center of said ball-shaped member a distance only slightly greater than the radius of said cylindrical upper end of said housing, said sleeve being spaced from said upper end of said housing when in said lowered position a distance sufficient to cause the vise to engage said housing to retain the vise in the plane of said upper end of said housing, said ball means being rotatable about said center of gyration when said sleeve is in said elevated position to dispose said support shaft and vise in a first position in which said support shaft is axially aligned with said cylindrical chamber and a second position in which said support shaft extends substantially at right angles to said first position, said ball means also being rotatable on an axis which extends coextensive with the axis of said shaft, f. clamping means for releasably clamping said ball member with said shaft in said first or second position or in any angular position therebetween.
 8. An angularly adjustable vise as claimed in claim 7 wherein said housing has an upper end and said vise has a support surface which rests upon said upper end of said housing when said sleeve member is in said lowered position.
 9. An angularly adjustable vise as claimed in claim 7 wherein said sleeve has an upper end and a lower end, a slot formed in said sleeve and extending downwardly from the upper end thereof to a level below the level of said support shaft when in said second position, said housing having an upper end, a slot formed in said housing and extending downwardly from said upper end to a level below the level of said support shaft when said sleeve is in said elevated position and said support shaft is in said second position.
 10. An angularly adjustable vise as claimed in claim 9 including a base member, said housing being mounted for rotation on said base member whereby the angular position of said slot may be adjusted.
 11. An angularly adjustable device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said sleeve and housing are each longitudinally slit, said clamping means including means for applying a clamping force to said sleeve and housing which tends to close said slits and thereby clamp said ball.
 12. An angularly adjustable device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cylindrical chamber of said housing is formed with an annular shoulder and said sleeve is formed with an annular shoulder, said shoulders being adapted to abut one another when said sleeve is in said elevated position to retain said sleeve within said housing.
 13. An angularly adjustable device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said sleeve is formed with an annular concave bearing surface adapted to receive a portion of the spherical surface of said ball in a close fitting relationship. 